Race results from Race 1 of our Paddler Series down at Ngati Toa Domain are out now! Well done to all our participants from across the region that completed the race, it was a fantastic day. We would also like to thank Hawaikinui Tuarua Waka Ama Club for being great hosts and putting together a great race.

Race Results-Race 1-Paddler Series 2021

Don’t forget to get your entries in for Race of the Series, held at Ngati Toa Domain, on Saturday 29 May.

For event information, please go to https://hoetonga.wordpress.com/2021/03/23/hoe-tonga-paddler-series-2021/

Ngā Mata o Te Ariki Tāwhirimātea (Sanctioned)

Venue: Evans Bay, Wellington Harbour
Date: Sat 26th Jun 2021
Distance: 8km & 15km
Host: Tai Tonga 41 Outrigger Canoe Club

In the world of Māori, Tāwhirimātea is known as the god of wind and weather.  At the time when the world was in darkness, the children of Ranginui the sky father and Papatūānuku earth mother, decided to separate their parents.  When this was done, Tāwhirimātea was so angry and devastated he went to live with his father, and in his sadness he plucked out and crushed his eyes, throwing them to the sky to spread all over his fathers chest and becoming Matariki.  The name Matariki is short for Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea.  The eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea.

The theme of this event Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea not only acknowledges the significance and challenges Tāwhirimātea sometimes gifts to waka ama paddlers and other water enthusiasts.  This event also marks rakaunui (full moon), the end of one year and beginning of another.  A time for remembering those who have passed over the last year and releasing their spirits, and a time to celebrate a bountiful future with friends and the communities of waka ama all around the world during these still unprecedented times.  

After a few years break, Tai Tonga 41° Outrigger Canoe Club has returned to celebrate its first year of revival.  They are looking forward to celebrating this milestone with other waka ama clubs, local kayak and canoe clubs with a 15km and 8km course designed to stimulate steerers as crews navigate from point to point in a star-like formation (weather dependent).  Alternatively the course will follow the landmass around Evansbay.  Paddlers are also able to do more than one or two races for even more challenge. We invite everyone to stay for prize giving, spot prizes, fiafia, hakari, waiata, share alofa and abundant stories.

Events:           

W1, W2, W6, W12

Divisions:       

Junior (J16 & J19) & Senior (20years+)

Categories:

Men, Women, Mixed

Fees:               

8km ($15 per person) & 15km ($20 per person)

Individuals may compete in more than 2 races and pay only a maximum of $35

Please note the online system is not able to adjust the discount for paddlers entering more than 2 races. 

Clubs will need to ensure no more than a maximum of $35 is paid for any individual.

To support our COVID tracing efforts, all entries are to be registered online by your club rep.  Clubs are to make one direct bank payment for all registrations.  Bank details are shown in the members area on registration.

Tai Tonga 41 Outrigging Canoe Club 38-9011-0013609-02  

Please ensure teams arrive and register on time with completed waiver forms

We will not accept late registrations
Online Entries:

• Entries Close: Sun, 20th Jun 2021 at 11:59pm
• Roster Close: Tue, 22nd Jun 2021 at 6:00pm
• View Entries by Club
• View Entries by Event
• View Entries Statistics
• Tai Tonga- Event Panui
• Individual Event Waiver Form
• Team Waiver Form

Contact DetailsName: Tai Tonga 41 Outrigger Canoe ClubEmail: taitonga41marathon@gmail.com

We are only just over a week out from having our first race of the Paddler Series underway for 2021. We are looking forward to seeing as many teams in our region and surrounding regions come and be part of our series this year.

Race 1 is going to be hosted by Hawaiki Nui Tuarua Waka Ama and will be run out of Ngati Toa Domain. All the information for the race is available here. Entries for this event close on Monday 24th May and rosters must be in by 6pm Wednesday 26th May.

Another one of our clubs is hosting an event on Saturday 26th June. Tai Tonga 41 Outrigger Canoe Club is hosting Tai Tonga 41 Marathon – ‘Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea.

If you would like more information please email: taitonga41marathon@gmail.com, or check out their facebook page.

Date: Wednesday 12th May 2021

Time: 7pm

Venue: Foxton Rugby Clubrooms

We are looking forward to meeting with those in Foxton or the surrounding areas interested in establishing a waka ama club in this community. Information will be given on what is needed to form a club, how we can support you in the process and what funding etc is available.

Come along, meet our regional development officer and others that are passionate about seeing this happen.

Hoe Tonga’s Board is pleased to announce our new Regional Development Officer:
Megan Qaranivalu.

Megan is based in Otaki, and is also an active member of Otaki Waka Hoe. She says: “Over the last six years I have fallen in love with waka ama and its lifestyle. I am enthusiastic, passionate and excited about the potential of Waka Ama in the region and the possibility of further growth.” 

She is looking forward to working with existing clubs, school co-ordinators and the different communities throughout the Hoe Tonga region to see how we as a collective can work together to achieve access to more programmes, development opportunities and the formations of new clubs in underserviced areas. 

Click on the photo below to view a selection of photos, courtesy of Terry Harkin, from our Regionals last weekend:

In addition, College Sport Wellington also had photographers on site, you can view and download those photos at https://collegesport.org.nz/envira/2021-waka-ama-sprint-champs/.

Congratulations to all the schools and paddlers that competed this year.

Last year, we had 45 teams competing across the various divisions, a record since we started this event. We easily surpassed this in this year’s event, with 59 teams competing, from across 22 schools. We had over 350 paddlers on the water!

A massive thank you to all the volunteers that helped run this event, to College Sport Wellington and David Fatatafa for collaborating with us to deliver this event, and our many supporters and sponsors, such as Porirua City Council (rubbish collection), Hutt City Council (hydration station), and Terry Harkin (photography).

We again also had two awards up for grabs.

Our School Excellence Award recognises the school that accumulates the most points across all races, with 4 points for each first place in Championship Finals, 3 points for a second place, 2 points for a third place, and 1 point for a fourth place. Unfortunately, due to a computer mishap, we announced the wrong winner on the day. We apologise for this. The winner this year was Te Kura Maori o Porirua, with 31 points, followed by Manukura (from Palmerston North) with 27 points, and in third place was Te Kura a iwi Whakatupuranga Rua Mano (from Otaki) with 24 points.

Our School Spirit Award is given to the school that contributes the most towards the atmosphere and event delivery, and key volunteers are judging schools on their contribution. This year’s winner of this award was Wellington East Girls College.

Check out the the full results here. Good luck to all teams that are heading to the Secondary School Waka Ama Nationals in Rotorua next week.

Finally, look out for awesome event photos to be made available over the next few days on this site.